Two sitting soldiers 

Editor: Here we have Salvator Rosa’s drawing, “Two Sitting Soldiers,” made with pencil on paper. The figures seem restless, even though they’re seated. I’m curious – what stands out to you in this work? Curator: The first thing that strikes me is Rosa’s use of materials and how they dictate the image. The red chalk isn't just a color choice, but a direct link to the earth, the source of pigment, connecting these soldiers back to their basic existence. Consider also, where did Rosa obtain paper during this period? Editor: That’s a great point, I hadn't considered the material itself. I was focused on the lines. Curator: Exactly, those furious, agitated lines! Notice how the frenetic energy speaks to a larger socio-economic tension? Rosa's choice of this relatively inexpensive medium--drawing--challenges traditional notions of heroic portraiture, which often utilized costly oils. What kind of a patron would solicit such a sketch? Editor: Hmm, maybe not the usual noble or church leader…Someone perhaps lower on the social ladder? So the economic limitations dictated both the material and maybe even the subject matter. Curator: Precisely. Rosa’s “Two Sitting Soldiers” is as much about the cost and conditions of artistic production as it is about the figures themselves. By using drawing, the artist challenges traditional notions of hierarchy. Editor: That's a really interesting lens through which to view the piece. I came in expecting a statement about military life, but now I see it's a commentary on artistic creation as well. Curator: Absolutely! It really changes our understanding once we consider the material and the labor behind the work.